In 2009, the Dardanelle School District implemented Imagine Learning English, a national reasearch-based educational learning computer program to provide additional support for students learning English as a Second Language (ESL).

Currently there are 463 ESL students in the Dardanelle School District — 147 in primary, 158 in elementary, 63 in junior high and 95 in senior high.

Children are tested annually in language and targeted for group learning, computer-assisted learning or both.

“Students don’t miss regular class instruction for ESL learning,” Jan George, ESL coordinator said. “Each student in the district has a 30-minute enrichment or intervention period each day. We don’t want our students falling behind in one area while catching up in another.”

The challenge for students learning English is greater than just learning phonetics.

“These students have no prior knowledge of our language and experiences. That can make a difference in the classroom,” George said. “We are teaching them beautiful vocabulary, but it’s taking it a step further to give meaning to the words that can be difficult.”

ESL instructor Silbia Galan knows first-hand how important classes are for the students.

“I was an ESL student in Texas,” she said. “I saw how difficult it was for my siblings to learn English when they were older. I learned to speak and read English at age 6, and I knew right then I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up.”

The Imagine Learning computer software allows children to hear stories and commands in their native languages first and gradually introduces English. The district currently has 80 licenses, each assigned to a specific student.